Composition for promoting hair growth

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a composition for promoting hair growth. More particularly, the present invention comprises a component for inhibiting 5α-reductase activity, a functional component of cell activity, and an expansion component of peripheral blood vessels. A composition for promoting hair growth of the present invention has a superior effect on hair growth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a composition for promoting hairgrowth, and particularly to a composition for promoting hair growthcomprising an ingredient for inhibiting 5 α-reductase activity, aningredient for promoting function of cell activity, and an ingredientfor dilating peripheral blood vessels.

(b) Description of the Related Art

There are approximately 100,000˜150,000 hairs on a human body, and eachhair has a different cycle and grows and falls off while passing throughanagen, catagen, and telogen phases. Such a cycle is repeated over 3˜6years, and as a result, an average of 50˜100 hairs normally fall out perday. Generally, a phenomenon in which the percentage of hairs in theanagen phase decreases and the percentage in the catagen or telogenphases increases, and thus many hairs abnormally fall out, is referredto as “alopecia”.

As causes for depilation, excessive function of male hormones, excessivesecretion of sebaceous matter, poor blood circulation, scalp functiondrop due to peroxides, bacteria, etc., genetic factors, aging, stress,etc. have been discussed. Although an exact cause for depilation has notyet been clarified, it is known that very complicated processes areinvolved therein. Recently, the population suffering from depilation hasincreased due to increase in stress, by changes in diet, socialenvironments, etc., and the age has lowered and the female depilationpopulation has increased.

As technologies for depilation and hair growth, preparations containingfemale hormones as main ingredients for promoting blood circulation,reinforcing hair root function, moisturizing the scalp, and inhibitingmale hormone function; 5 α-reductase inhibitors; preparations containingminoxidil, trichosaccharides, etc. have been suggested, but they havenot shown any marked effects, and side-effect problems are raised.

As technologies for inhibition of depilation and hair growth,preparations containing ingredients for promoting blood circulation,reinforcing hair root function, moisturizing the scalp, etc.; femalehormones for inhibiting male hormone function; 5 α-reductase inhibitors;preparations containing minoxidil, trichosaccharides, etc. as mainingredients have been suggested, but they have not shown any markedeffects, and side-effect problems are raised.

For example, in order to inhibit 5 α-reductase, a male alopecia-treatingagent using finasteride that has been used as a male prostate glandtreating agent has been developed, but side effects such as sexualfunction disorder, etc. have been reported. In addition, Korean PatentApplication No. 1998-008238, and Japanese Patent Laid-Publication Nos.2000-256142, 2000-169497, 2000-095649, 2000-053539, 2000-007534, and1999-246414 have disclosed 5 α-reductase activity-inhibiting material orcompositions using natural extracts such as Sophora flavescens extract,etc. However, hair growth effects are not satisfactory if they are usedalone.

The main function of blood circulation is to transfer nutrients or otherrequired materials to tissues, and blood supply is important for hairgrowth. Shollet and Cotrans have reported that blood vessels aroundhairs in the anagen phase are more plentiful than those around hairs inthe telogen phase, and it is known that as hair papilla becomes larger,the number of micro-blood vessels increases to have a capillary networkdeveloped suitably for a large hair follicle. In addition, according toa hypothesis that a scalp flexibility drop or a decrease in peripheralvascular blood flow in subcutaneous scalp cell tissue causes hair growthdisorders, if the well-developed capillary network decreases because ofprimary or secondary factors, the number of hair follicles reduces by akind of nutrition disorder to manifest clinical depilation symptoms.Minoxidil, known to be a hypertension-treating agent, is widely used topromote hair growth, but it cannot show satisfactory hairgrowth-promoting effects.

Accordingly, there is a need for development of a hair growth-promotingagent having superior hair growth-promoting effects without sideeffects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve these problems, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a hair growth-promoting agent that does not causeany side effects and has superior hair growth-promoting effects.

In order to achieve these objects, the present invention provides acomposition for promoting hair growth comprising

a) an ingredient for inhibiting 5 α-reductase activity;

b) an ingredient for promoting cell activity functioning; and

c) an ingredient for dilating peripheral blood vessels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be explained in detail.

The present inventors have studied various causes and process mechanismsfor depilation and multilateral mechanisms for promoting hair growth inorder to develop a hair growth-promoting agent having superior hairgrowth-promoting effects. As a result of combining a few hundredingredients such as male hormone function-controlling ingredients, bloodcirculation promoting ingredients, cell activity function promotingingredients, anti-inflammatory ingredients, etc. and screeningdepilation-preventing and hair growth-promoting effects thereof, theyconfirmed that hair growth-promoting effects remarkably increase when a5 α-reductase activity inhibiting ingredient, a cell activity functionpromoting ingredient, and a peripheral blood vessel dilating ingredientare combined, and completed the present invention.

The hair growth-promoting agent of the present invention comprises a) aningredient for inhibiting 5 α-reductase activity; b) an ingredient forpromoting function of cell activity; and c) an ingredient for dilatingperipheral blood vessels.

The ingredient for inhibiting 5 α-reductase activity includes Sophoraflavescens extract, Coicis semen extract, clove extract, etc., andSophora flavescens extract is particularly preferable. The scientificname of Sophora flavescens is Sophora flavescens or Sophoraangustifolia, the herbal medicinal name thereof is Sophorae radix, andits root is used as an herbal medicine. Representative ingredientscontained in Sophora flavescens include alkaloids such as matrine,oxymatrine, sophoranol, etc.; and flavonoids such as kuraridin,isoanhydroicaritin, etc.; its leaves contain luteolin-7-glucose; and itsseed contains cytosine, etc. In addition, Sophora flavescens extract isused as a bitter stomachic, a peripheral vascular constrictor, anantipyretic/analgesic, a skin parasiticide, etc., and application of alarge dose must be avoided because toxicity appears at 0.4 g/kg or more(Han Daesuk. et. al., Pharmacognosy, Dongmyung Publication, 194–196,1994).

Sophora flavescens extract used in the present invention can be obtainedfrom Sophora flavescens by a common extraction method. As an example, itcan be prepared by dry-pulverizing purified Sophora flavescens topowder, cold-immersing it in an extraction solvent at an amount ofapproximately 10 times thereof for 5 days, and filtering, concentrating,and lyophilizing the extracted undiluted solution.

An extraction solvent used in the extraction of Sophora flavescens isselected from a group consisting of purified water, methanol, ethanol,propanol, butanol, glycerol, propylenegylcol, 1,3-butyleneglycol,methylacetate, ethylacetate, benzene, hexane, diethylether,dichloromethane, and a mixture thereof.

In addition, the Sophoara flavescens extract (solid contents) ispreferably contained in an amount of 0.0001 to 10 wt % of the total hairgrowth-promoting agent. If the contents are less than 0.0001 wt %, hairgrowth effects are insignificant, and if the contents exceed 10 wt %,the effects cannot be proportional to the contents and the desiredpreparation form cannot be maintained. More preferably, it is containedin an amount of 0.05 to 0.5 wt %.

As the ingredient for promoting function of cell activity, hinokitiol,ginseng extract, red ginseng extract, etc. can be used, and hinokitiolis particularly preferable. The hinokitiol is a crystalline acidmaterial existing in Taiwan hinoki oil, Aomori, Western Red Cedar oil,etc., and it is also named β-thujaplicin and its chemical name is4-isopropyl-2-hydroxy-cyclohepta-2,4,6-triene-1-on(C10H12O2) orisopropyltropolone. Acidic ingredients are extracted from oil derivedfrom leaves, trunks, and branches of plants pertaining to the Hinokifamily Asnaro genus, Kurobe genus, or Nezmisashi genus to obtain rawhinokitiol, and then it is distilled and recrystallized to obtain purehinokitiol.

According to the present invention, hinokitiol can be extracted from anatural substance or it can be synthesized, and the production method isnot specifically limited.

In addition, the hinokitiol is preferably contained in an amount of0.001 to 1 wt % of the total hair growth-promoting composition. If thecontents are less than 0.001 wt %, hair growth effects will beinsignificant, and if the contents exceed 10 wt %, the effects will notbe proportional to the amount and the desired preparation form cannot bemaintained. More preferably, the contents are 0.05 to 0.5 wt %.

As the ingredient for dilating peripheral blood vessels, nicotinamide,benzylnicotinate, Swertia herb extract, etc. can be used, andparticularly nicotinamide is preferable. Nicotinamide, a kind of vitaminB complex corresponding to pyridine-3-carboxiamide (C6H6N2O), is alsonamed nicotinamide or niacin amide, it exists as NAD and NADP in livingbodies to comprise a co-enzyme, and it is used for peripheralvasodilation and nutrition supply to hair root cells, etc. in cosmetics.

In addition, the nicotinamide is preferably contained in an amount of0.01 to 10 wt % of total hair growth-promoting composition. If thecontents are less than 0.01 wt %, hair growth effects will beinsignificant, and if the contents exceed 10 wt %, the effects will notbe proportional to the amount and the desired preparation form cannot bemaintained. More preferably, the contents are 0.5 wt 2 wt %.

A combination of two or more kinds of each ingredient having effects ofa), b), and c) within a range that does not influence stability ofpreparation form will bring good effects.

In addition, the hair growth-promoting composition of the presentinvention may further comprise other ingredients mixed with common hairgrowth-promoting compositions, such as a dandruff preventing agent, ananti-inflammatory, an antibacterial, a keratin softener, a refresher, amoisturizer, etc. together with the ingredients having the effects ofa), b), and c). For example, pepper tinct, ginseng extract, red ginsengextract, Coicis Semen extract, Swertia herb extract, clove extract,tocopherol acetate, piroctone olamine, salicylic acid, I-mentol, etc.can be used.

The contents of the additives are not specifically limited if they arewithin a range that does not disturb the effects of the mainingredients, and that can maintain the preparation form. However,considering safety to a user or stability of the preparation form, thepiroctone olamine is preferably contained in an amount of 0.001 to 1.0wt %; the pepper tinct, ginseng extract, red ginseng extract, CoicisSemen extract, Swertia herb extract, clove extract, tocopherol acetate,etc, are in an amount of 0.001 to 10 wt %; the benzylnicotinate is in anamount of 0.001 to 0.1 wt %; and the salicylic acid, I-mentol, etc. arein an amount of 0.01 to 1.0 wt %.

The hair growth-promoting composition of the present invention can beprepared in all preparation forms that can be applied to the scalp,including liquid, cream, paste, or solid, etc., and it can be preparedfor compositions such as shampoo, hair conditioner, hair potion forpromoting hair growth, or liquid phase hair growing agent.

As a result of conducting clinical tests on people with alopecia andanimal tests using C57BL/6 mice, which are test animals for evaluatinghair growth effectiveness, the hair growth-promoting composition of thepresent invention was found to not cause side effects to a human body,and it shows unexpectedly improved hair growth effects compared to ahair growth-promoting agent containing one or two of a 5 α-reductaseactivity inhibiting ingredient, a cell activity function promotingingredient, and a peripheral blood vessel dilating ingredient, as wellas an existing hair promoting agent.

The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference tothe following Examples, but these are to illustrate the presentinvention and the present invention is not limited to them.

EXAMPLE Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7

A hair growth-promoting composition of Example 1 was prepared with acomposition as shown in Table 1 using Sophora flavescens as a 5α-reductase activity-inhibiting ingredient, hinokitiol as a cellactivity function promoting ingredient, and nicotinamide as a peripheralblood vessel dilating ingredient. The compositional ratios of the hairgrowth-promoting compositions of Comparative Examples 1 to 7 are also asshown in Table 1. The ingredient unit is wt % in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparative Example Example 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ethanol 40.0  40.0 40.0  40.0  40.0  40.0  40.0  40.0  Sophora 0.1 0.1 — — 0.1 0.1 — —Flavescens extract Hinokitiol 0.1 — 0.1 — 0.1 — 0.1 — Nicotiamide 1.0 —— 1.0 — 1.0 0.1 — Pepper tinct 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5Benzylnicotinate  0.01  0.01  0.01  0.01  0.01  0.01  0.01  0.01Swertiaherbextract 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Ginseng extract 0.50.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Coicis semen 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5extract Clove extract 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Tocopherol 0.1 0.10.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 acetate Pyroctone olamine 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.10.1 0.1 0.1 Salicylic acid 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 I-mentol 0.30.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Tween 20 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5Perfume Appropriate amount Pigment Appropriate amount water Added to 100wt %Experiment 1: Animal Test

Hair growth-promoting effects tests were conducted using mice (C57BL/6,male) of age 42˜56 days. Hairs around their backs were removed, weightswere measured, and they were divided into groups of 10 mice so that bodyweights were evenly distributed. After an adaptation period of one day,the liquid phase compositions prepared with the compositional ratios asshown in Table 1 were coated on the hair-removed portions. Thecompositions were coated on the backs in an amount of 100 μl once a dayfor 40 days per mouse.

The ratio of area where new hairs were grown to area where hairs wereremoved was measured using a picture analyzer, and the average valueswere presented in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparative Example Example 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Area 92.8 48.8 44.641.2 58.8 52.0 51.6 28.6 ratio (%)

As shown in Table 2, the composition of Example 1 showed an area ratioof 92.8%. This result indicates high hair growth effects correspondingto 200% of Comparative Examples 1 to 3 using one of a 5 α-reductaseactivity inhibiting ingredient, a cell activity function promotingingredient, and a peripheral blood vessel dilating ingredient, and 170%of Comparative Examples 4 to 6 using 2 kinds of ingredients. This resultindicates that when 5-reductase activity inhibition, cell activityfunction, and peripheral vascular dilation progress together, surprisingsynergistic effects for hair growth promotion emerge.

Experiment 2: Clinical Test

In order to measure clinical effects for hair growth promotion using thecompositions of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 6 and 7, clinicaltests were conducted on 10 adult men and women of age 20˜50 havingalopecia or having an average hair loss of 100 or more hairs per day.

The composition was coated on hair-removed portions by droplet(approximately 2 mL) 2˜3 times a day, and it was used for a minimum of 1month to a maximum of 4 months, according to the degree of effects.

Effects were determined by evaluating average hair loss amount per dayat hair washing, examination with the naked eye, and degree ofimprovement of subjective symptoms according to the standard as shown inTable 3 by 5 grades, and a general improvement degree was set as anaverage of the evaluation standard.

For the final determination, a composition having a general improvementdegree of 3.0 or more was judged to be effective, and the results are asshown in Table 4.

TABLE 3 Hair loss amount at hair Subjective Examination with washingsymptoms naked eyes 5 Remarkable decrease Remarkable Remarkable decreasedecrease 4 Serious decrease Serious decrease Serious decrease 3 Slightdecrease Slight decrease Slight decrease 2 No change No change No change1 Aggravation (increase) Aggravation Aggravation (increase) (increase)

TABLE 4 Examination General At hair Subjective with the nakedimprovement washing Symptoms eye degree Example 1 4.3 4.1 3.8 4.1Comparative 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.9 Example 6 Comparative 2.5 2.6 2.3 2.5Example 7

As shown in Table 4, the hair growth-promoting composition of Example 1of the present invention showed more than serious improvement,indicating that it has remarkably superior hair growth-promoting effectsto those of Comparative Example 6 or 7. In addition, no side effectsoccurred in any subject during the use period, indicating that thecomposition is safe for the human body.

As explained, the hair growth-promoting composition of the presentinvention comprising an ingredient for inhibiting 5 α-reductaseactivity, an ingredient for promoting functioning of cell activity, andan ingredient for dilating peripheral blood vessels has remarkablydistinguished effects compared to the existing hair growth-promotingcompositions and the hair growth-promoting composition comprising one or2 kinds of ingredients of a 5 α-reductase activity inhibitingingredient, a cell activity functioning ingredient, and a peripheralblood vessel dilating ingredient, due to excellent synergism.

1. A composition for promoting hair growth, comprising: a) Sophoraflavescens extract; b) hinokitiol; and c) nicotinamide, wherein thecomposition comprises 0.0001 to 10 wt % of the a) Sophora flavescensextract on the basis of solid contents of the Sophora flavescensextract, 0.001 to 1 wt % of the b) hinokitiol, and 0.01 to 10 wt % ofthe c) nicotinamide.
 2. The composition according to claim 1, furthercomprising an additive ingredient selected from a group consisting of adandruff preventing agent, an anti-inflammatory, an antibacterial, akeratin softener, a refresher, a moisturizer, and a mixture thereof. 3.The composition according to claim 1, further comprising an additiveingredient selected from a group consisting of pepper tincture, ginsengextract, red ginseng extract, Coicis semen extract, Swertia herbextract, clove extract, tocopherol acetate, Benzylnicotinate, piroctoneolamine, salicylic acid, I-menthol, and a mixture thereof.
 4. Thecomposition according to claim 1, comprising about 40.0 wt % ethanol;about 0.1 wt % Sophora flavescens extract; about 0.1 wt % hinokitiol;and about 1.0 wt % nicotinamide.
 5. The composition according to claim4, further comprising one or more additional ingredients selected fromthe group consisting of pepper tincture, benzylnicotinate, Swertia herbextract, ginseng extract, Coicis semen extract, clove extract,tocopherol acetate, piroctone olamine, salicylic acid, 1-menthol, Tween,perfume, pigment, and combinations thereof.
 6. The composition accordingto claim 4, further comprising about 0.5 wt % pepper tincture; about0.01 wt % benzylnicotinate; about 0.5 wt % Swertia herb extract, about0.5 wt % ginseng extract; about 0.5 wt % Coicis semen extract, about 0.5wt % clove extract, about 0.1 wt % tocopherol acetate, about 0.1 wt %piroctone olamine, about 0.3 wt % salicylic acid, and about 0.3 wt %1-menthol.
 7. The composition according to claim 6, further comprisingan effective amount of perfume.